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Chapter 19: The Parasite Queen
🕑 Added 2025-07-15 10:08:22 +0000 UTCThe sound of footsteps and rapid, ragged breathing echoed down the research facility's corridor. The soft white light from the LED strips li
The sound of footsteps and rapid, ragged breathing echoed down the research facility's corridor. The soft white light from the LED strips lining the ceiling began to dim, as if it could go out at any moment. Owen's group, consisting of Rosy, Mark, and Anna, was heading towards the deepest part of the research center. Every step was filled with caution and a relentless, overwhelming pressure.
“We're getting close to its nest,” Mark said in a low voice, his hawkish eyes scanning their surroundings with distrust.
“Then we have to be even more careful,” Owen replied, gripping the steel pipe in his hand tightly. The tension on his face reflected the feelings of the entire group. His eyes were filled with focus and unwavering determination, every fiber of his being ready to face an enemy that could appear at any second.
A high-pitched screech rang out not far from where they were, followed by the sound of something's footsteps hitting the floor rapidly, its rhythm unnatural.
“It's found us!” Anna exclaimed in panic, her eyes fixed on the mutated parasite that was charging towards them.
Owen didn't hesitate. He shot forward, swinging the steel pipe in his hand at the head of a parasite that had emerged from a side corridor. The impact sent it flying backward. Its body fell and twitched slightly before getting up and letting out a terrifying, guttural threat. But at the same time, another parasite launched a surprise attack from the side, its body covered in sharp, bony spikes.
Seeing that, Owen quickly ducked to narrowly avoid its bone spikes, which left a thin gash on his side, with a little blood seeping out. Luckily, it wasn't a deep wound, so it wasn't a major problem for him.
Surrounded by the two mutated parasites, their rotten stench filled his nostrils. Owen scanned his surroundings for an advantageous position where he wouldn't be attacked by both at once. Finally, he saw a large storage cabinet that had tipped over, blocking the corridor and leaving only a small gap underneath to squeeze through.
Seeing this, Owen didn't wait to be ganged up on. He immediately ran for the cabinet, with the two mutated parasites right on his heels, before sliding through the gap underneath. This was followed by a loud, earth-shattering 'CRASH~' as the two parasites, unable to stop in time, foolishly slammed into the metal cabinet. They writhed in pain and confusion.
This gave Owen the opportunity to slide back through and attack them again. The metal pipe was swung with the torque from his waist, torso, shoulder, arm, and finally his wrist, creating a perfect swing that smashed into the head of the mutated parasite closest to him. Thwack~ Crack~ The sound of a skull fracturing rang out, sending its body flying into the corridor wall.
Rosy, who was behind him, saw that Owen was about to be ambushed by a third parasite. She seized the opportunity, lifted a small metal container from the floor, and immediately threw it at the parasite's head to divert its attention. CRASH~ SCREECH~ The loud impact was followed by its furious shriek. Rosy, seeing that it had changed its target to her, wisely retreated.
There was no way she would fight it up close like Owen. Instead, she would use her agility and wits to survive.
And her plan worked. It gave Owen the chance to turn and deal with the second mutated parasite on the floor, which was just getting back on its feet. But it seemed to be too late, because Owen had already closed the distance. He quickly swung the steel pipe in his hand at it with all his might, then followed up by smashing its head until it collapsed to the floor with the echoing sound of a cracking skull, before it finally turned into a spirit form. After that, Owen turned to help Rosy, who was being chased by the other parasite.
“Rosy! Down!” he shouted.
The young woman instinctively dropped to the ground, while Owen leaped and brought the steel pipe down with full force from behind the parasite. The resounding impact made it howl before it fell to the floor, writhing in pain. Without delay, Owen rushed in and repeatedly smashed its head until it was dead. Dark, black blood pooled on the floor, and a foul stench filled the entire corridor.
“Thanks...” Rosy panted heavily, clutching the steel pipe in her hand tightly. Although she was terrified, her eyes still shone with a spark of determination. She was no longer a victim, but a survivor growing stronger with every second.
“You still good?” Owen asked with a faint smile, his gentle eyes contrasting with the surrounding atmosphere.
“Of course. I'm not letting you fight alone,” she replied firmly, nodding with confidence.
Then, their group slowly moved forward again with caution. Every footstep was silent; even their breathing was barely audible. When they encountered more than three parasites, they would find a hiding spot or take a detour according to their original plan, moving with silence and care, like hunters in enemy territory. Every movement had to be calculated, every breath precise.
…..
Finally, they came to a stop in front of a large metal door that was strangely ajar. The door was twisted, as if it had been torn apart by something. Darkness and a strong, fishy stench emanated from within.
“This is it... the deepest part of the research center,” Mark murmured, his eyes showing a flicker of dread.
Stepping inside, everyone froze at the sight before them. The floor, walls, and ceiling were covered with a membrane-like biological tissue of a dark red color. It pulsed gently, in rhythm with something that looked like a heartbeat. Some parts of the tissue were still secreting a sticky, clear fluid that dripped onto the floor periodically. The atmosphere was thick with the smell of blood, rot, and a nauseating biological slime that made it almost unbearable to stand.
“God…” Anna covered her mouth, her eyes wide with horror, her lips trembling uncontrollably.
“I don't see how this looks like a ‘nest’ at all...” Rosy whispered faintly. “It looks more like the inside of something's body…”
Owen took another slow step forward, trying to peer into the darkness ahead. The rhythmic pulsing of the tissue grew louder and louder, like a giant heart pumping rotten blood throughout the entire place. Some parts of the walls had traces of creatures crawling past, leaving long trails of slime.
“My gut is telling me… they're waiting for us inside…” Owen said softly, his eyes more tense than ever before. His voice was almost swallowed by the terrifyingly silent atmosphere.
The fear of the unknown began to creep into everyone's minds, like a cold shadow silently following them. And they were about to meet the source of this nightmare very soon…
The group could only swallow hard, the pressure building in their chests making it difficult to even breathe. They looked at each other grimly. No words were spoken, as they all knew that what lay ahead was unpredictable. The musty smell and the fishy stench of the biological slime that filled the air only added to the tension of every step they took.
Although everyone knew that the chances of surviving this place were less than fifty percent, they gritted their teeth and walked into the monster's nest with all the determination they had. The eyes of each person reflected a mix of resolve, fear, and a faint hope that might never be realized. Every breath felt like passing through a thousand needles piercing their bodies and hearts.
What was strange was that even though they had been walking deeper for several minutes, they hadn't seen a single mutated parasite. It was clearly, abnormally quiet. So quiet that even their footsteps and breathing were too loud in this darkness. All eyes scanned their surroundings cautiously, all ears listening for the slightest movement that might indicate danger.
Owen began to feel even more uneasy. His senses told him clearly that they were willingly walking into the mouth of a monster. With every step, the anxiety grew. His consciousness screamed at him to turn back, but his heart pushed him to keep going without hesitation, because there was no place to go back to anymore…
And soon... what he feared happened!
The shadows of hundreds of mutated parasites began to slowly emerge from the darkness, appearing from the walls, the ceiling, and every corner of the room, as if they had been hiding and waiting for this very moment. Their forms were varied, from those with numerous sharp legs to things that looked like a cross between an insect and a human with tentacles growing from their backs. They surrounded the group completely from all directions.
Everyone in the group turned pale. Their hearts pounded as if they were about to explode. They knew… it was over now... The hands holding their weapons began to loosen weakly, no matter how hard they tried to control them.
They could barely defeat just three of them, let alone the hundred-plus parasites before them. This wasn't a fight; it was a slaughter with no escape. They were standing in the middle of their own pre-dug graves. Perfectly…
Owen was about to scream for everyone to run for their lives, but then… a familiar voice echoed from the darkness. It was cold, yet possessed a strange charm. The voice seemed to both mock and ridicule them with amusement.
"Welcome to our home, humans... or should I call you my former friends?"
A young woman in a researcher's uniform slowly walked out of the darkness. Her eyes glowed with an eerie red light. Beside her, a mutated parasite walked calmly, like a royal guard protecting a person of power. She walked with confidence, her gait like the owner of this land.
Seeing her face, Mark immediately frowned. His eyes widened in shock before he said in a firm voice, "Is that you? Jane… No, you must have been taken over by it!"
Yes, the person who appeared to greet them was none other than Jane, the woman who had journeyed with them before running away from the group. Although her external appearance still looked human, everyone knew instantly... she had become one of them. Not just controlled, but completely one with them.
No parasite attacked her, and her words confirmed that truth clearly. Her voice was tinged with pride. Mark gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with anger. He shouted, "What do you want, you beast!"
The curse, filled with hatred, was hurled mercilessly at the parasite in Jane's body. But Jane just smirked, not even bothering to pay attention. She stood still like a victor looking down at helpless ants, and she was the one who controlled their fate.
"Curse all you want, human... Your lives are in our hands now anyway. Our Queen wants you to do something for her, in exchange for your petty lives for now." She paused for a moment, her smile becoming even more sinister as she continued.
"If you think you can survive this situation, feel free to struggle all you want... but there won't be a second chance. Because if you don't accept the Queen's command, we'll just find another group of humans to replace you. So, what do you say?"
As her voice faded, silence once again fell over the room. Everyone in the group knew she wasn't lying. It was a cruel reality. There was no way they could break through the encirclement of hundreds of parasites. There were no options and no path of retreat.
Everyone in the group began to feel utterly hopeless. Their faces were grim, as if their souls had left their bodies. Only Owen remained calm. He thought quickly, his mind rapidly laying out scenarios. Various situational simulations popped up in his head, and when he found one with a chance of success, he was the first to speak up in a flat voice.
"Alright... we have no choice anyway. Everyone loves their life…” Owen took a small step forward, staring at Jane with a resolute gaze before continuing in a calm voice, but with a hidden meaning.
"But for us to be able to follow that command, we need to meet with your Queen first, to see how powerful she is... whether she is worthy of our allegiance or not…”
Owen's words made everyone in the group's eyes widen. They turned to look at Owen with shocked expressions, unable to believe that this was what he chose to say at this time.
“Is he really going to surrender?” Anna murmured, as if talking to herself rather than asking anyone.
Perhaps only Rosy trusted him. She frowned slightly but didn't voice any objection. Her eyes stared at Owen steadily before she looked down with a faint smile at the corner of her mouth.
“You have a plan, don't you…” she thought. Thinking back to when she played RTS games or strategy games with him, she had never been able to beat Owen. He was someone who never made a move without a purpose, even if that move seemed nonsensical or played into the enemy's hands. And every time he made a bet, he always had an advantageous card in his hand.
And this... might just be the checkmate move he chose to play to win this final battle. If it failed, they would all die. But if it succeeded, they would finally achieve checkmate…
Hearing Owen's request, Jane, who was standing in the middle of the parasite encirclement, narrowed her eyes at him with an unreadable expression. Her lips moved as if she were about to instinctively refuse, because she knew that letting a human like Owen get close to the Queen was an incalculable risk. It could mean the direct annihilation of her race.
But suddenly, her body froze, as if caught in a deep thought. Her eyes widened before slowly narrowing. She was silent for a moment, as if receiving a command or having a deep conversation with someone in her head. Not with sound, but through a direct transmission of thought.
Not long after, she turned her head back, her expression clearly displeased. A puff of air escaped her lips before the words came out in an irritated tone.
"Hmph~ Lucky for you, human. Because it seems the Queen accepts your request... Follow me…”
Owen frowned slightly the moment he heard that answer. He looked at Jane suspiciously when he saw her pause earlier, as if she were thinking or talking to someone in her head. The fact that she seemed to have suddenly changed her words only confirmed his suspicion.
'Telepathic communication? This is just like the Zerg race in the RTS game, where you can control all units through a Hive Mind…' Owen thought, his expression growing a little more tense.
If the Queen could control all the parasites through a psychic network, it meant she wasn't just a monster with great strength, but she was the center of all the intelligence and decision-making for this race. She could plan, command, and control every parasite without moving a single finger.
Her true terror might not lie in her ability to reproduce... but in the network of consciousness she had created…
Owen immediately began to re-evaluate his own plan. The confidence he had started to be replaced by anxiety. He was no longer sure if the plan he had carefully laid out would work. But in this situation, there was no other choice. He had to take the risk…
The group began to follow Jane slowly towards the center of the nest. Every step was filled with an indescribable pressure. The smell of rot, slime, and blood mingled in the air. The dripping sound of a strange liquid hitting the floor in rhythm made the place feel more like the belly of a monster than a research center.
The dim red light from the membrane covering the walls and ceiling glowed faintly. In some places, you could still see the biological fluid flowing in streams within. The thumping of a giant heart echoed, creating a haunting rhythm that no one could ignore.
When they stepped into the densest zone of the nest, their eyes were drawn to the center of the room… a huge mass of flesh that pulsed in a steady rhythm like a giant heart, serving to nourish the life of every parasite in this nest. And beneath that heart... a terrifying and fascinating creature awaited them.
It was the Parasite Queen, over 3 meters tall. Her skin was a slightly reflective red color. She was lying on her side amidst hundreds of parasite eggs. Her face was devoid of eyes and a nose, her mouth split wider than normal. Her large head was covered with dozens of tentacle-like appendages that moved slowly and rhythmically, like the snakes of Medusa.
Her body was completely naked, revealing two large breasts from which a white, milk-like slime flowed endlessly from her hard nipples. She had a large, swollen abdomen that pulsed rhythmically, like the belly of a woman close to giving birth. Below, it revealed large, swollen pussy lips that were constantly twitching, opening and closing, sometimes revealing the inner fleshy walls grinding against each other. All in all, she was the true center of birth for the mutated parasites.
She also had limbs filled with dense muscles and long, sharp claws, like blades ready to slice through anything. Every part of her body was a symbol of survival through extreme evolution.
[Character Illustration: The Parasite Queen]
When Owen's group walked in front of her, the Queen slowly lifted her head and grinned widely until the corners of her mouth almost reached her ears. Sharp teeth were revealed in neat rows. A long, bright red tongue slithered out of her mouth slowly and flicked back and forth like a snake.
At that moment, her telepathic presence slammed into everyone's minds. It wasn't just a sound; it was a force that compelled them to perceive it, unavoidably.
"Hello~ little humans... Gaze upon my body, which has evolved countless times. Praise me as your queen, and I shall allow you to live, under my rule, in the new world I am about to create. Rejoice and be glad, o humans~"
That psychic power was like a vibration of the soul. Everyone felt dizzy, their heads heavy, their bodies momentarily weak, as if their brains were being disturbed by an unfamiliar frequency. Some even collapsed to the floor in fear.
Especially Mark, a man who believed in logic and reason, was now facing something beyond imagination.
“No... the information we had on her was all wrong. This is the real Parasite Queen? There's no way we can defeat it…” he murmured to himself in despair.
Only Owen remained standing. He stared at the Queen with a resolute gaze, his heart pounding, his mind still firm. Without delay, he gathered all the power within him before whispering to himself softly.
'Now is the time... This is the only chance we have to turn the tables!'
Just then, Owen's "Reality Warp" power shot out from his consciousness, aiming precisely at the Parasite Queen before him!
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